2 Boys Say Man Approached Them

Boys Say They Were Approached By A Man

Police are interviewing several children who live near the SimpsonWaverly School in Hartford after receiving reports Thursday that a man dressed in a police-type uniform was trying to lure children into his car.

Lt. Thomas F. O'Connor, a spokesman for Police Chief Ronald J. Loranger, said patrol officers and detectives from the department's Youth Services Division are looking into the accuracy of the reports.

O'Connor said a 9-year-old boy was walking home near the school Thursday at 2:30 p.m. when he was approached by a man.

Police said the man told the boy, "I want you to come with me."

But the child kicked the man and ran to his house to report the incident to his parents, O'Connor said. The parents reported it to the school, and police were called.

School officials declined to comment Thursday afternoon when a reporter asked about the police broadcast.

Several officers canvassed the area for witnesses. O'Connor said he did not know why an unusual occurrence report was not filed, which would have alerted the press.

"We are investigating the incident and have been trying to interview children who might have seen the man," he said.

The child told police the man was wearing a light-blue police-type uniform and "some kind of badge."

The man is described as a black male, about 33 years old, 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds.

Meanwhile, school security chief Peter Roach said officials now doubt another pupil's story that a man in a blue uniform had pursued him near Simpson-Waverly School Thursday. School principal James Thompson declined to comment.

"We are trying to decide whether the kid is really telling the truth," Roach said. "We are worried, but we are not sure of the facts. We don't want to say something and really miss."

School officials are looking at ways they can improve school

security following a dramatic increase in school violence this year. Administrators say they plan to meet with police and city hall officials about the issue soon